Tata Motors to supply 80 e-buses to WBTC

Tata Motors announced the supply of 80 electric buses to the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC), at an event held in Kolkata on February 20.

The company has already supplied 20 ultra-electric 9/9m AC e-buses, with remaining 20 scheduled to be delivered by March 31.

Tata Motors will also be supplying 40 9/12m AC e-buses to WBTC in a phased manner. The West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, flagged off the buses with dignitaries from WBTC and Tata Motors. The new buses will begin their inaugural journey from Nabanna, Howrah.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rohit Srivastava, Product Line Head – Passenger Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, said, “With growing environmental concerns, electric bus is definitely a symbol of future mobility. Tata Motors has always been at the forefront of the e-mobility evolution and this order is a testament of our best-in-class solution tailored for the bus segment in India. The order is part of the 255 e-buses to be supplied to six STUs in the country, of which WBTC is one.”

Manufactured at Tata Motors Dharwad plant, the ultra-electric buses will have a traveling range of up to 150 kilometers on a single charge. The company has installed charging stations at Nonapukur, Kasba, Newtown and Belghoria. Furthermore, intermediate charging terminals powered with fast charging are mounted at Howrah and Santragachi.

The indigenously developed e-buses offer superior design and best-in-class features. The Li-ion batteries have been placed on the rooftop to prevent breakdown due to waterlogging. The batteries are liquid cooled to maintain the temperature within an optimum range and ensure longer life along with better performance in tropical conditions.